Today was a fantastic day. I arrived at the barn, collected my freshly clipped and oh-so-handsome boy, groomed him up, and tacked him appropriately for a trail ride. The high today was 65 with fast-moving clouds competing with blue skies and beautiful sun. The colors are coming through, on a daily basis it seems, leaving the trees on fire. What a fantastic day for not only a trail ride, but for big accomplishments!
I’ve been tired with the trails on the property. They are great, but not long enough to hold our attention for an entire ride. Lately I’ve been riding Elvis along the road in front of the property, just to see how he’d handle the cars. Well, today I decided it was time to truly road test him! My goal was to get to a nearby neighborhood that is very horse friendly: dirt roads, wide and grassy shoulders, and loads of magnificent barns and homes to look at (as well as lovely horses!). That, however, required me to ride down our road which is moderately busy, then take a very busy road for about 200 feet, cross that road, and then ride into the nice neighborhood. I wasn’t sure how Elvis would handle the busy stretch, but I figured we’d see.
So, I set off. I went alone which I really don’t recommend, especially if you are riding a green 4yo with limited life experience. I did call a friend and tell her what I was doing and gave a time frame though. I also took my cell, and had Elvis wear a rope halter under his bridle in case we got into a hairy situation. I did not lunge him, instead deciding to see how he’d handle things “fresh”. He was definitely zippy, but not strong or “hot”. (for the record, “zippy” is my term for that attitude a horse can have where it seems as though they have springs in their feet and they are just trucking along)
On the first road, we encountered so many new things:
- culverts of all sorts – plain, decorated, ones incorporated into faux “bridges” for drive ways, rock lined ones, plant lined ones, and ones hidden in weeds.
- lots of litter, including scary floating plastic bags
- guide on wires for telephone poles, with and without the yellow plastic covers
- utility boxes of all shapes and sizes for the gas and power companies
- mailboxes of every variety
- concrete curbs (this, for me, was a big one! Elvis sometimes forgets to look where he was going, so I went over them a couple of times to teach him that whereas they might not look like they are there.. they are, and they are hard!)
- all sorts of types of pavement – these all absolutely fascinated Elvis, which I thought was weird… but he’s a weird horse.
- zillions of cars whizzing by, some were pulling loud metal trailers, and some were large hauling trucks and van
He handled things like an absolute pro! He was just marching along, taking it all in! He was definitely looking at everything, but didn’t stop or offer to turn around at any point. He also didn’t spook. What a smart boy!
At first I thought that perhaps we should only do the first road, and I actually turned him back, but he was so good I figured “now or never”, and we headed back to the corner. The corner had only about six feet of available shoulder that dropped down a pretty steep 8 foot incline. Trees bordered one side, and there was a stop sign. Of course, right when we got there a large lawn maintenance truck pulled up and just waited there, which kind of worried Elvis but he didn’t show it physically. We made the corner (without going down the drop, yay!) and started alongside the very busy road. He trucked along, and then I stopped him while I waited for a time to cross. It was kind of a bad place to cross, but it was my only option. I didn’t hear any cars coming, so I urged him quickly on. He got out into the middle of the road and then seemed to notice that we were yet again on a new form of pavement and became fascinated..again. I was not interested in becoming road kill so I kicked him on, and he obliged.
The ride along the destination neighborhood was amazing. I think Elvis was overcome with all of the beautiful things to see. We took a number of roads along the farms before turning back. On the trip home, Elvis negotiated the very busy road with ease. Still, he was alert and forward, but never was he not listening or focusing on stimuli as opposed to me. Good boy!
Not only did Elvis perform like a superstar, experiencing a thousand new things today in a stressful environment, but he also listed to his mother. There were a few times where he was almost pulling the giraffe-neck-nonsense, but I’d ask him to soften and work into the contact long and low and he would. I had to remind him about a million times, but that is ok with me, as long as he listens!
On a more sentimental note.. along our ride I thought about all those years where I just pined after horses. I’d find some, think they were meant for me, and my heart would break knowing I wouldn’t be in any position to own them. Then, when we were shopping, I ran across a good number that I loved. I’d feel so sure about some of them, but invariably they were passed on. Then, Elvis was there. Everything seemed to fall into place, and now he’s mine. I really believe that we are perfect for each other. Regardless of your view of “fate”, I think we all have times where we just know something was meant to be. This horse means so much to me beyond “riding”, that I’m convinced he was put in my path for a reason.
I wish everyone could have their own “Elvis”, and feel the way I do.
I’m so glad you love him. Don’t they just, “make you proud”.
Isn’t riding in the autumn wonderful? One thing I might suggest, is fastening a luggage tag to your saddle with Elvis’s home address and emergency contact in case you ever get seperated. I heard that one on COTH last week, and the bright red leather tag I ordered came in the mail yesterday, so it will be on my saddle tomorrow.
Woo! Elvis! Elvis!
Yaaaay Elvis!!
*hugs to both o’ you* SOOO know how you feel. 😉
Those of us who have good, usin’ Saddlebreds have it made. You should check out my recent COTH post about my Autumn trail ride with my girlie a couple of weeks ago (it’s on Off Course). I’m sure it will sound very familiar!
ps – Sasha thinks any change in footing, especially light cement to dark cement, is cause for halting and sniffing. LOL!!